BALMENACH

Location :

Balmenach, Cromdale, Grantown-on-Spey. Moray, Morayshire. Grampian Region. - A95 main road heading towards Bridge of Avon from Grantown- on-Spey. About a mile from the former Cromdale station on the Spey Valley railway line.

From the book 'The Scottish collection' Classic Malts by Carol P. Shaw:
Tasting notes : A complicated, full-bodied malt, best suited os an after-dinner dram. Taste Rating = 4
The Balmenach Distillery, in the Haughs of Cromdale, is set in an area which was notorious for illicit distilling for many years before the
Licensing Act of 1823.
Built in 1824 by James McGregor : \L\1reat-grandfather of Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart, author of the slassic 1951 book, Scotch),
Balmenach was one of the first distilleries in the Highlands to be licensed under the 1923 act.
The distillery was acquired by United Distillers and most of its production went into the company's blends but has since been closed.
The single malt is still relatively rare, only becomming available in official bottlings in the Distillery (Flora and Fauna) Malt series
early in the 1990's.

Balmenach is used in Crabbie's blends

From the Whisky pilot by Uniqum Systems :
Built in 1824 by James McGregor,
Balmenach was one of the first distilleries in the Highlands to become legitimate after the Licensing Act of 1823.
Located in a stretch of land known as the Haughs of Cromdale, meaning a series of valleys,
this area once was notorious for illicit distilling.
Bought by SMD in 1930 and extended from four stills to six stills in 1962.
A Saladin Box malting system was installed in 1964 and used until the mid- 1980's.
Bought by United Distillers plc, but was closed and mothballed at the end of May, 1993.
United Distillers sold it to Inver House Distillers in December 1997.
The distillery has three low wines and three spirit stills each which still has its own worm tub.
Production started on the 2nd of March 98 and it is planned toproduce 1,200,000 litres to end 1998.
A branch line was built to the distillery in the late 1880s and the steam engine which worked the line is
preserved on the Strathspey railway at Aviemore.
Local lore tells that farmer James McGregor was visited by an excise officer just after the 1823
Excise Act had been passed. He was shown round the farm and experienced typical hospitality with a bottle of fine whisky.
The officer then pointed out an outbuilding and asked what it was used for.
"That's just the peat shed," came the reply. The officer said nothing, and continued to enjoy his whisky.
After a few more drams, the officer made to leave.
"If I were you, Mr McGregor," he said, "I'd take out a licence for that peat shed.
" McGregor took the hint and took out the necessary licence.
The distillery lies in a bowl in the hills off the A95 main road heading towards Bridge of Avon from Grantown- on-Spey.
The distillery stands about a mile from the former Cromdale station on the Spey Valley railway line.
Visitors by appointment only.
Production water comes from the Creagan a" Chaise, part of the Cromdale hills, via the Resmuden and Cordon burns."